UBC's new baseball stadium completes $110 million transformation of Thunderbird Park (PHOTOS)

With more than 25 players drafted into Major League Baseball, UBC’s baseball program has developed into a first class operation under the guidance of longtime director Terry McKaig.

And now, UBC Baseball finally has its crown jewel.

The new $5 million yet-to-be-named baseball stadium is open, and is the final piece of the ambitious $110 million investment in Thunderbird Park that began in 2008.

Other additions to Thunderbird Park include:

• UBC Baseball Rose Indoor Training Centre
• Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, a 7,200-seat arena used for hockey and other events
• Renovated Wright Field for field hockey
• Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre
• National Soccer Development Centre building (used by the Vancouver Whitecaps)
• Rashpal Dhillon track and field oval
• UBC Tennis Centre
• Surrounding turf fields

“Ten years ago, this was a sea of waterlogged grass fields and some aging facilities, the transformation has been remarkable,” said Kavie Toor, UBC’s senior director of facilities, recreation, and sports partnerships.

Image: UBC Athletics

UBC is hoping this can become its own mini-version of Nat Bailey Stadium.

The new baseball grandstand seats 480 people, with both individual and bench seating, and includes a press box at the top of the bleachers. Other new instalments include a new scoreboard, professional grade lights, and big-league dugouts.

It has an artificial playing surface to endure Vancouver’s rainy weather, but you’d never know it from pictures. The two-tone ‘grass cut’ gives it a natural, first-class look.

This is now the premiere university baseball facility in Canada, which also gets use from youth clubs.

“The baseball stadium now completes a $110M transformation of Thunderbird Park,” Toor added. “We are so proud of the diversity of uses in this park. We have students, kids, adults, pro-athletes, varsity athletes, weekend warriors, recreational athletes, and everything in between taking place at this precinct.”

See also

• UBC pitcher Curtis Taylor drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks in MLB Draft
• Making history: Female UBC softball player joins men's baseball team
• UBC female softball player pitches against men in baseball debut

The university baseball season is coming to a close, with the last homestand taking place this weekend, with back-to-back double headers on Saturday and Sunday against the Corban Warriors from Oregon.

Coached by former Major Leaguer Chris Pritchett, the T-Birds enjoyed a 10-game winning streak during the soft-launch of the stadium, beginning in March. Their new home has already brought them good luck, with UBC holding an 11-2 record over the last three weekends of play.

Image: UBC Athletics

Image: UBC Athletics

Image: UBC Athletics

Image: Rich Lam / UBC Athletics